Week 14-Final Entry in Nature Journal

I found the process of keeping this journal to have a really positive impact on my life. I liked having a spot to go back to each week and notice the differences that occurred from the beginning of the semester to the end. This last time I went back it was very empty but felt peaceful, like an ending almost. It did make me much more observant of nature and my own consumption. From sitting in my place each week, I realised that as I walked to my classes on campus I would notice the flora and fauna in the area much more than I ever had before. I come from an entirely different region and climate, so there are many plants that are new to me here. It has been great taking the time to notice them and do a little research on them. I think this journal helped me to remember to enjoy the smaller things, and to find peace and understanding within yourself. This is something as a full-time student with a full-time job often times neglects. It also forced me to be outside (not that I’m complaining, I miss the outdoors like crazy)

As for my consumption habits, I have really seen a change in the way I think about things. I now never use plastic bags in stores, and with friends who do, I ask them not to-offering to carry their groceries if that will get them to not use a bag. I have almost stopped using disposable items, except for napkins and toilet paper (obviously), I find those hard to replace. I have also done a lot more research on sustainable items, and companies that use organic and natural materials to make things rather than chemically engineered items. This goes from beauty products to food to clothing. I continue to limit my use of water, and have actually been discussing all of these things with my family back home. I hope to encourage them to give up plastic goods and disposable items upon returning home.

I would have preferred to have a physical copy, to include drawings, flowers, etc. I do find this online journal to be restricting and a little out of touch with the idea of the assignment. When I am in my nature spot I try purposefully to not bring any technology with me, This means of course that I will write about my experiences at a later time, and maybe forget things or not feel as connected to my writing as I would have in the moment. Perhaps in the future we could choose either online or a physical copy, and just upload pictures of our physical copy each week rather than trying on a computer. Since this course was online already, I felt that I was at the computer far too much, and I miss writing and drawing things by hand.

Last updated November 30, 2018